In a little more than four weeks, bettors across the Commonwealth finally will have retail Massachusetts sports betting.
Legal retail wagering officially begins at three casinos on Tuesday, Jan. 31.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) announced last week that brick-and-mortar sports betting will commence at Encore Boston Harbor, MGM Springfield and Plainridge Park Casino (PPC) in Plainville, as all were given the green light to open retail sportsbooks earlier this month. And big-name mobile operators, like Barstool Sportsbook Massachusetts, won't be too far behind.
Massachusetts sportsbook apps and mobile betting are expected to launch in March, with the hope being before the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Bettors are surely hoping they get to use a WynnBET Massachusetts promo code to wager on March Madness this year.
As the historic day of Jan. 31 approaches, what Massachusetts-based sporting events will bettors (21 years and over) have the first opportunity to bet on?
Here is your first look:
The current top two teams in the NHL’s Atlantic Division will square off as the Boston Bruins visit the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 1 (7:30 p.m.). With the all-star break, the Bruins will have the next 10 days off until they host the Washington Capitals on Feb. 11 (3:30 p.m.).
The Boston Celtics, the top team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, will host the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 1. Two days later, the Celtics are home against the Phoenix Suns.
The Celtics then travel to visit the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 6 before coming back to face the Philadelphia Sixers on Feb. 8.
Is College Sports Betting Allowed in the Commonwealth?
In the Bay State, there is no betting on in-state college teams, unless they’re playing in a tournament.
It just so happens that the 70th annual and right-of-passage Boston sporting event, college hockey's Beanpot Tournament, is held early in February. The semifinals take place Feb. 6 with the consolation and championship games Feb. 13, all at TD Garden.
The semifinal matchups will be Boston College vs. Harvard at 5 p.m. and Boston University vs. Northeastern at 8 p.m.
You can wager on the Beanpot games and if Boston College, Harvard, Northeastern, Boston University and Massachusetts compete in their conference tournaments and/or March Madness, you can wager on that, too.
Looking ahead to the middle of the month, bettors will be able to wager on the Super Bowl, being played in Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday, Feb. 12. The Jan. 31st launch date does not concur with the AFC and NFC Championship games, which are held two days earlier on Sunday, Jan. 29.
The MGC’s “early March” timetable for mobile sports betting apps should come ahead of the NCAA Tournament, which starts on Thursday, March 14 with first-round action.
Legislation for sports betting in the state was passed back in August.
Stay tuned to BetMassachusetts.com as the dates for both retail and mobile sports wagering draw closer as well as for Massachusetts sports betting promo codes.
